The Marshalltown, IA driver sits 10th in Series points prior to visits to Tennessee and Alabama (Emily Schwanke Photo)
Ryan Gustin entered the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model campaign by starting a new chapter with a new learning curve. And he’s already written a plot twist a few months in.
He left Tri Star Promotions to team with fellow Iowan Todd Cooney and his Cooney Motorsports team at the beginning of the year, piloting a Longhorn Chassis – which he won with at the Talladega Short Track in January. But recently, he’s switched to an Infinity Chassis by Wells Motorsports – a move he said he believes will pay off in the long haul.
“The biggest difference has been the cars, really,” Gustin said. “We started out with Longhorn, but this is an Infinity Chassis by Wells Motorsports, so we’re on a different engine combo, chassis, so it’s not like I’m jumping into something I’ve been used to previously. It’s taken a little bit to get these cars to what I like and how I drive. But all in all, I think everything has gone really well.”
2024 marks his fourth full tour with the World of Outlaws Late Models. He had a strong season last year with Tri Star, finishing seventh in points with three wins, 12 top fives and 22 top-10 finishes.
He’s gotten off to a slow start, so far, this year with the World of Outlaws, currently holding a best finish of 12th at Volusia Speedway Park in February. However, the Alabama Gang 100 at the Talladega Short Track (April 19-20), could be a turning of the tides for Gustin and Cooney Motorsports.
Gustin has finished on the podium in every race he’s ran at Talladega. In last year’s Alabama Gang 100, he finished third and then followed that up with his Ice Bowl win in his first race with Cooney on Jan. 7. It’s a track that suits his driving style as he chases for his first win of the 2024 season.
“Anytime we’ve been to Alabama, we’ve been in the top three,” Gustin said. “Something about that place has really fit my driving style to where you kinda get up on the wheel or roll the middle or bottom. It’s one of the tracks I enjoy going to and really looking forward to seeing again.”
Gustin is not the only member of last year’s #19R team who switched over to Cooney Motorsports from Tri Star. Noah Bushman, Gustin’s tire specialist, joins Gustin as the two experienced minds continue to work together toward chasing their first Series title.
“Noah has been with me for a long time,” Gustin said. “He’s came to (Cooney) with me and he’s really close to us with me and my family, so it definitely helps bringing someone along who you’ve had communication with for so long and a lot of years, so it makes the change easier, and we look forward to what’s ahead.”
Gustin prepares for battle with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models at Thunderhill Raceway on Thursday, April 18, then a trip to the Talladega Short Track on Friday and Saturday, April 19-20. For the full Series schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model race live on DIRTVision.
